Flash light



C. C. KELLER.

FLASHLIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8. I92I.

Patented 1360.111922.

Patented l2, i922.

its

narrar reina..

CAIVDEN C. KELLER, 0F TIPSILANTI, MICHXCTAN, ASSEGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO THOll/IAS LAVIER, JR., AND ONE-@HERB T0 R. FISHER, BOTH QF YESLANTI, lVIIC-IGAN.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application led June i8,

T o all whom t may concern Be it known that L CAMDEN C. lilnLLnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of Vilashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Flash Lights, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,

The invention relates to flashlights and it is the object of the invention to obtain a construction of casing which is easily manufactured and assembled and which permits of being quickly detached for the removal or exchange of batteries. rlhe invention has further reference to various features of improvement as hereinafter set forth.

1n the drawings:

Figure lis a longitudinal section;

Figure 2 isla cross-section;

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the complementary casing sections.

The casing of my improved battery is formed of a plurality of complementary cylindrical segments,v preferably two semicylindrical segments A and A. The edges of these segments are fashioned to enga-ge each other, the one being formed with a projecting tapering tongue portion B with an abutment C adjacentY thereto and the other having a beveled portion l)` for receiving said tongue and an abutting shoulder E. The tongues B do not extend the entire length o f the segment, but terminate a short distancefrom each end and as indicated at F and Gr, the length between the end of the tongue and the end of the segment is' different at opposite ends so that the segments can only be assembled in one way. The segments are formed of any suitable material, but preferably of die castings, which are therefore accurate in form. The segments are further provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting and longitudinally extending ribs H, preferably three in number, which serve as bearings `forA centering the battery Awhere the latter is not of true circular shape.`

To secure the segments A and A to each other the opposite., ends thereof are formed 'with complementary portions of a screr7 thread and these threaded end portions are engaged by correspondingly threaded rings 1921. Serial No. 478,470.

I and J. The ring J forms a cap for closing the lower end of the casing', while the ring` I is provided with a flange l for `engaging the lens K, and clamping the same to the end of the casing. L is the reflector which is preferably formed of insulator material., such, for instance, as hard rubber and provided with an enameled or otherwise brightcned inner reflecting surface. The reflector is provided at its ou'terend with the flange L which seats upon the e-nd of the -cylin` drical segments and at the center there arranged a threaded lamp socket M for receiving the threaded bearing N of the lamp.

`The socket M is threaded both internally and externally and has a shouldery Mat one end'for seating upon the'retlector. O is a metallic disk threaded to engage the outer threads of the socket and serving as a locknut for clamping the same tothe reflector L. P is a button' having a shank P slidably engaging a slot in one of the casing segments and Q is a metallic finger secured tothe shankof thebutton and extending parallel to the casing, its outer end having the inwardly bent portion Q adapted to contact with the disk O. 2

With the construction as described, to assemble the flashlight' aI battery'R of any suitable construction is employed and the segments A and A are' placed around the samel and engaged with each other. The'cap 'J 'is then screwed to the lower end of the 'casing and a spring" S therein bears upon central Acontact R of the battery Rand by reason of the spring S, this contact is pressed into engagement with the central 'insulated Contact of the lamp. The other terminal of the lamp is in electrical connection with the lamp socket and with the .disk 0, but by reason of the insulating character of the reiiector there is no direct electrical connection with the casing A; Thiscasing is, however, in electrical connection with the casing of the battery both by the bearing of the battery casing against the ribsyH and through the spring S and there is also electrical connection between the outer casing and the'nger Q, which is controlled by the button P. Thus whenever the button is actuated to press the end Q of the .finger against the disk O, electric circuit is established Ywhich will illuminate the lamp.

An important advantage of my improved construction Iis that there is nothing to in terfere with quickly detaching the casing Whenever it is necessary to remove the battery. Allso, the fact that the reflector is formed of insulating material Vprovides a readymeans of insulating the lamp socket from the casing, While the circular disk U will be in registration ivith the contact finger Q in` 'any position of adjustment. Therefore, n'oslrill is'required in assembling th'e'parts, as'- it Vis impossible to put them together in anyinoperative' arrangement.

vVlhatf claim as my'i-nvention is:

Y1. A ashli'ght comprising 'a battery, casi g'fornfied of complementary cylindrical segments enclosing said battery, removable clamping rings forr holding said segments togethena lamp unit secured by one of said clamping ringsI at one end ot said casing and in electrical contact With one of the battery ter1'nin'alsA the other terminal bein 'on' said' Casing,fand aswitch for grounding theother; terminal of' the lamp.

QL-A- flashlight comprising a battery, a formed "of Vcolnp'lementary cylindrical sex idents e'ii'closin said battery and having Tco pleni'entajry threade'diendportions, a cap i're'ngaging one threaded end of said cas'- ing sections 4and forming a closurel a ring for engaging the other threaded end ot the casing, fa' lamp and/lens-'clamped to saidcase ing by lsaid ring, With one of the lamp terminal'sin Contact With a' battery terminal, a spring,between said cap and the opposite end-"of the'battery for yieldably holdi. said contacts together and also-for grounding Athe battery' casing onthe outer casing7 a buttonslidably' secnreld to one of the casing seginents,fa nd a finger'carried by said button andniovable thereby into grounding ycontact y'vith said laiip.'

3. A flashlight: comprising a battery having a terninal Contact arranged Acentrally at "'nefen'd, an:ontercasing'forrned of complement-ary cy' lnidrical s ents and lheaving complementary threaded Y l, end portions, a cap @losing one end' rof said casi-ng 'and eningthe complementary threads thereof,

a ring for" the opposite threaded.

p' '7 contact 1-enga'ging the central battery co act'y'alen's lseated on the reflector and a spring for holding said contacts in engagen 'rounded y ment and forming a grounding connection between the battery casing and the outer casing, and a. button slidably secured to one of said casing segments having a finger tor forming a grounding contact with said disk. et. A flashlight comprising a, plurality ot complementary cylindrical casing segments adapted to embrace the battery, clampingrinffgs engaging opposite ends ot said segments for holding the same together, one oi' said rings constituting a cap for closing the end of the casing, and a lamp and reflector unit secured by the other of said rings in operative relation to the battery.

5. A flashlight comprising a pluralityvot complementary cylindrical casing segn'ients 'having their adjacent edges fashioned to engage eachother'andthe ropposite endsof said segments being provided With coinpleinentary threaded portions", threaded rings for engaging the ends of said segments, one of said ringsA constituting-va cap for closing the end of the casing and the other being flanged' for engaging the lens to clampthe saine to the opposite end of the casing, and a lamp and reflector unit clamped by said lens in operative relation to the battery Within saidcasing.

6. A flashlight comprisingv a casing for enclosing the battery, a lamp and reflector unit engageable Withsaid casing and-'includ-inge reflector formedof insulatingmaterial and anged'to engagel the end-ofsalid casing, a-lamp socket engaging the center of said reflector and threaded externally and internally, a disk apertured and internal threaded to engage ther-external threads of said socket'and to form a lock-nut for clamping the sameto said reflector, the-internal threads of said socket being adapted. to engage the threadedterminal of the lamp, permitting the central terminal'votsaidlamp to Aproject therethrough into Contact Withthe battery terminal, a switch button sli'dably mounted on said casing-anda finger grounded upon said casing and adjustable bysaid button into contact with said dish: to coinplete the lamp circuit,

7. A flashlight comprising complementary cylindrical casing segments hearing registering threaded portions at the'endsy thereof, threaded rings for engaging said threaded endportions to clamp said segments around the battery, one of sai'd rings constituting a cap for closing one vendof the casing', spring in said cap for engagingtheeend of the battery to yieldably press the same upward, a reflector and lampuni't engageable With the opposite end ofsaid casing, said reflector being formed of insulating material and having'the lamp socket mounted thereon and insulated thereby-from the casi-ug, a lens for closing the reflector'endfof the casing, said lens and reflector unit *being secured by said ring, and a contact finger grounded onsaid casing movable thereon into electrical connection with said lamp socket.

8. A flashlight comprising a sectional casing for enclosing the battery, a reflector, means for securing said reflector in position at one end of said casing, said reflector being formed of insulating material, a flanged socket member engaging said reflector, a lamp having a threaded terminal extending` through said socket member and engaging a terminal of said battery, a disk for clamping said socket member to said reflector, a Enger grounded upon said casing adapted to engage said disk, and means for actuating said finger.

9. A flashlight comprising a battery, a plurality of complementary casing segments embracing said battery, a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from said segments and engaging said battery, clamping rings engaging opposite ends of said segments and holding the same together, one of said rings constituting a cap for closing the end of said casing, and a lamp reflector unit secured by the other of said rings in operative relation to said battery.

10. A flashlight comprising a plurality of complementary casing segments, a battery disposed between said segments, the edges of one of said segments having beveled portions intermediate the ends thereof, tongues extending from the edges of the other sections engaging said beveled portions, the distance between one end of said tongues and the adjacent ends of said segments being different from the distances between the op posite ends of said tongues and the opposite end of said segments, clamping rings engaging opposite ends of said segments for holding the same together, one of said rings constituting a cap for closing the end of said casing, and a lamp and reflector unit secured by the other of said rings in operative relation to said battery.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CAMDEN C. KELLER, 

